Expandable electric plug adapter

ABSTRACT

An electric plug adapter mating with a complementary electric service cord plug to form a strong unitary-type construction and having expandable sockets to accommodate various sized and positioned appliance electrode prongs to form positive electrical contact therewith including improved means for facilitating disengaging and engaging the adapter to the appliance electrodes.

United States Patent 1,399,360 2/!933 Roudebush etal.

George W. Oakes Crystal City, Mo. 63019 831,365

June 9, 1969 July 20, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented EXPANDABLE ELECTRIC PLUG ADAPTER 6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 339/32, 339/1 l0, 339/255 Int. Cl H0lr 29/00 Field of Search 339/3 l 33, 74, 75, l 10, l9l, 255

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,987,692 6/196] Oakes 3,293,589 12/1966 Oakes Primary ExaminerStephen .I. Novosad Assistant Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Attorney-March, Le Fever & Wyatt ABSTRACT: An electric plug adapter mating with a comple menta'ry electric service cord plug to form .a strong unitarytype construction and having expandable sockets to accommodate various sized and positioned appliance electrode prongs to form positive electrical contact therewith including improved means for facilitating disengaging and engaging the adapter to the appliance electrodes.

PATENTEnJuLzolsn- 3,594 69? SHEET 1 UP 2 INVENTOR. 650266 [I OAKES v/ zwzw EXPANDABLE ELECTRIC PLUG ADAPTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to an expandable electric plug adapter for use with household and institutional electrical appliances and, more particularly, the invention concerns itself with improvements in an electric plug adapter of the type disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,589.

The prevalent use of domestic and institutional electrical appliances such as toasters, coffee urns, hand irons, etc., requires frequent connection and disconnection of the respective electrical service cords for the purposes of cleaning, storing, or using the appliance for table service. When such appliances are new, it is not unusual to experience difficulty in connecting and disconnecting the plug of the electrical service cord at the electrical terminals of the appliance because of the tightness of the fit purposely designed by the manufacturers to partially compensate for subsequent wear of these parts. The close-fitting connection creates a potential hazard in the nature of hand burns to the user when restraining the appliance at the time of making or breaking the electrical connection. Conversely, after extended use of the appliance, the plug of the electrical service cord and the appliance terminals undergo considerable wear which may result in a dangerously sparking, loose-fitting electrical connection. In addition, replacement of the original electric plug because of wear or breakage with a standard size plug is not always satisfactory, especially in those instances where the appliance has a plug receiver of special construction which is not compatible with the standard size electrical service cord plug.

Accordingly, there is a need for an electric plug adapter which is constructed and arranged to adapt an electric plug to an appliance or utensil not otherwise complementary therewith and one which may be readily engaged or disengaged with one hand and which is designed to compensate for normal wear of contacting parts so as to always provide for a safe, positive electrical connection to the appliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an expandable plug adapter of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,589 with improved actuator means for readily attaching or detaching the plug adapter to the terminals of utensil and to form a positive electrical connection therebetween with a minimum of effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide an expandable electric plug adapter which complies with the rigid structural and operational test requirements and specifications set forth by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, for these electrical components.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an expandable electric plug adapter with electrodes that are constructed with resilient female socket portions formed in one end thereof for positive electrical connection with the utensil electrode prongs and resilient tubular projections formed on the other end portions for similar positive electrical connection with the female terminals ofa service electric cord plug, the resilient tubular projections being so constructed as to mate with the complementary electric service cord plug to form a strong unitary-type assembly of plug and electric plug adapter.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an expandable electric plug adapter in which the housing, constructed of molded electric insulating material, firmly engages the electrodes in a manner to prevent relative lateral movement of the electrodes but is designed so as not to restrict the flexing of the resilient female socket portions of the electrodes.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision ofa leaf spring adjunct to each of the two sections of the actuator to augment the biasing force of the spring clip embracing the female socket portion of the plug adapter to insure a secure,

positive, physical and electrical contact with the utensil electrode prongs.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a metal clamp of unique design and construction devised to protect the molded electric insulating material of the adapter housing from damage and to afford overall structural strength to the plug adapter without interfacing in any manner with its intended functionality.

Yet another feature of this invention resides in the improvement in the configuration of the actuator sections to improve the cam action of these components and further facilitate the manual release of the plug adapter from the utensil without detracting from the gripping action of the female sockets of the plug adapter electrodes about the utensil terminal prongs.

The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation view of the expandable plug adapter shown in connection with the plug of an electrical service cord and showing the metal clamp means for providing the plug adapter with satisfactory structural strength.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the plug adapter only, illustrated in its normal inoperative position; and having parts thereof shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a front or female end view of the plug adapter of FIG. 2 in the normal position thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the plug adapter illustrating the same in its expanded position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the plug adapter of FIG. 4 illustrated in the expanded position thereof.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the plug adapter in the expanded position thereof.

FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the spring means.

FIG. 8 is a detailed side view of the plug adapter having a half section'thereof removed to illustrate the internal construction thereof.

FIG. 9 is a detailed side view of the inside portion of a half section of the housing.

FIG. I0 is a detailed side view of the plug adapter electrode.

FIG. I I is a plan view of the electrode of FIG. 10.

FIG. I2 is a perspective view of the electrode of FIGS. I0 and II.

FIG. [3 is a side elevation of the retaining and actuating device of FIG. I through FIG. 5 illustrating the adjunct leaf spring means for biasing the actuator to the open position.

FIG. I4 is a detailed perspective view of one element of the retaining and actuating device of FIG. 13 illustrating the contour of the side portion to provide the camming action.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the metal clamp for equipping the plug adapter with satisfactory structural strength.

DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown the improved expandable electric plug adapter 20 of this invention in FIGS. I to 5. As best seen in FIG. I, the plug adapter 20 is useful to adapt a plug 21 of an electric cord 22 to an electrical appliance or outlet (not shown) to which the plug 2! is not otherwise adaptable.

The plug adapter 20 comprises a pair of similar complementary half sections 23, 24 which define the housing 25 for the electrodes 26 thereof. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the half sections 23, 24, formed of a suitable electrical insulating material is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending recesses 27. Thus, in the assembled position, the respective two half sections 23, 24 are joined so that the complementary recesses 27 formed therein cooperate to define a pair of elongated sockets, each adapted to receive an electrode 26 of the plug adapter. Accordingly, each of the sockets so formed open to each end of the adapter 20.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the rear or male end portion of the respective half sections, along the contacting edge thereof, is chamfered so as to be provided with a beveled portion 28 so that when assembled, the respective sections 23, 24 can have imparted thereto a rocking movement as will be herein described. If desired, the same rocking feature can be attained ifonly one halfsection is beveled, depending upon the amount of rocking action that is desired between housing sections 23 and 24.

A novel and effective method of equipping the split housing construction of the plug adapter with satisfactory structural strength is provided for in this invention. As shown in FIGS. I to 5, the half sections 23, 24 are held in the assembled position by the interaction ofa U-shaped spring 35, a metal reinforcing clamp 50 and a pivot pin 36 which extends transversely of the half sections and secures the clamp 50 in proper position embracing the two half sections by passing through aligned openings in the reinforcing clamp and the two half sections. Preferably the clamp 50 is comprised of a metal stamping or the like and is shaped to form two side elements 50A, 50B of similar configuration which are interconnected by a flexing web portion 50C, the latter defining a hinge about which the respective side elements of the clamp are followed as can best be seen in FIG. 15. Accordingly, the side elements 50A, 50B of the clamp thus defined are compressed against the exterior side surfaces of the respective half sections 23, 24 by the biasing action of the flexing web portion 50C which is positioned astride the half sections when in assembled position and the clamp assembly clasps and holds the two half sections 23, 24 compressively together in the normal operative position. The side elements 50A, 50B of the clamp have apertures aligned with apertures in the half sections through which the pin 36 passes to hold the clamp in position about the two half sections. The pin also acts as the pivot or fulcrum for the actuators which will be described herein below.

The side elements of the clamp have cutout portions corresponding in size and shape to the external recesses 37 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 4) in the half sections 23 and 24; therefore, the clamp side elements do not overlay the external recessed portion of the half sections and do not interfere with the installation or biasing action of the spring 35. The forward portions of the side elements of the clamp are tapered inwardly toward the surface of the half sections in order to facilitate insertion of the electric plug adapter in the socket of the electric appliance and it is to be especially noted that the forward extremity of the side elements of the clamp are foreshortened in order to avoid any possibility of contacting the metal clamp with the terminals of the electric appliance when connecting (or disconnecting) the adapter to the electric appliance.

The metal clamp 50, in addition to clasping the two half sections of the electric plug adapter together and thus augmenting the biasing action of the spring 35 to compress the front or female ends 20A of the two half sections 23, 24 together, has the important function of adding structural strength to the electric plug adapter. The metal clamp serves as a protective shield to withstand sharp, strong, compressive forces which may accidentally be applied to the half sections as, for example, the forces which the adapter half sections could be subjected to when accidentally dropped or angularly inserted or removed from the electrical appliance socket housing. The side elements of the clamp by overlaying a substantially large area of the two half sections of the electric plug adapter housing effectively resist sharp blows or twisting forces which, without the protective benefit of the clamp, could crack or otherwise damage the relatively brittle electrical insulating material ofwhich the half sections are constructed.

Additionally, an important feature of this invention resides in the novel configuration of the clamp 50 in that while providing the required additional structural strength to the adapter assembly so that it meets all the rigid testing requirements and specifications of the foremost regulatory agencies such as the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and National Electrical Manufacturers Association, for electrical plug components. it does so without interfering with the novel functionality of the adapter to adapt a plug of an electrical cord to an electrical appliance to which the plug is not otherwise complementary.

As best seen in FIG. 9, each half section 23, 24 comprises a molded part in which a longitudinally extending central ridge 29 separates the respective recesses 27. Each recess 27 is thus defined by the central ridge 29 and a marginal edge 30 which circumscribes the respective housing half sections 23, 24 and which defines the abutting edges of the respective half sections in the assembled position thereof. Accordingly the edge portions defining the respective ends of the adapter are notched to define the socket openings 31.

As seen in FIG. 9, a pair of spaced-apart, opposed projections 33, 34 extends inwardly in each of the respective recesses 27 in proximity of the male end 208 of the respective half sections. The arrangement is such that the projections 33, 34 and the marginal edge portion at the male end 208 of the respective half sections cooperate with the structure of the specific electrodes 26 as will be herein described, to secure the electrodes from sliding within the recesses 27 when the half sections 23, 24 are assembled.

In accordance with this invention, the improved electrodes 26 adapted to be received in the sockets defined by the complementary recesses 27 of the respective half sections 23, 24 are constructed and arranged so as to be readily flexed for accommodating variable size contacts of mating electrical components, eg the prongs of a plug or of a utensil and the like". so as to insure a snug fit therebetween. This is attained by constructing the respective electrodes 26 from a single strip of electrical conducting material, e.g. copper, so as to form at one end a pair of complementary members 26A 268 for receiving the contacts of the mating electrical prong therebetween and, at the opposite end, a tubular prong projection 26F for insertion in the socket of the electric cord plug in connection with the plug adapter Preferably the electrodes 26 are formed of a pair of similarly shaped members 26A, 268 which are interconnected by a webbed portion 26C, the latter defining a hinge about which the respective members 26A, 26B are folded as best seen in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12. Accordingly, the folded members 26A, 268 thus define a split electrode 26, one end of which defines a female end portion 26D which is adapted to be housed within the respective half sections 23, 24 and the other end defining a tubular male projection 26E extending beyond the end of the housing 25.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the ends 26] of the respective electrode forming members 26A, 26B adjacent the female end 26D thereof are laterally bent in an outward direction. Thus, in the assembled position, the outwardly bent portions 26] are adapted to be received in the transverse recess 32 of the housing sections 23, 24. Intermediate the ends of the respective electrodes 26 there are provided complementary notches 26G, 26K and a shoulder 26H for accommodating the projections 33, 34 and the marginal edge portion of the half sections 23, 24 at the male end 208. Therefore, in the assembled position of the adapter 20, the respective electrodes 26 are securely retain ed in position therebetween. From the structure described, it is to be noted that in the assembly of the adapter, the respective electrode 26 need be only pressed in position within its respective recess 27. No other means is required to secure the electrode to the respective housing when assembled. Accordingly, the female end 26D of the electrodes 26 is free to flex so as to snugly fit or receive the male electrodes of a utensil although the adapter electrodes 26 are tightly fitted in the housing 25 so as to be prevented from the lateral movement. Thus, if there is any variation in the size or dimension of the connecting male electrodes of the utensil, the female ends 26D of the adapter electrodes 26 have some latitude of spread for accepting the same.

The substantially cylindrical, tubular male projections 26E of the adapter electrodes 26 are dimensioned in length and diameter to snugly fit the complementary sockets of an electric service cord plug so as to effect positive electrical contact and a strong rigid union between the adapter and the plug.

As shown in FIG. ll, with the respective electrodes 26 properly positioned within the recesses 27 of one half section, the other mating half section is connected thereto and secured by a pin means 36 and a U-shaped spring clip 35 illustrated in detail in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the spring clip 35 normally biases the female end A of the respective half sections 23, 24 together. This is attained by providing each of the half sections with an external recess 37 at the female end 20A portion of each half section for accommodating the respective leg portions A of the spring clip 35. The female end 2lllA of each half section is notched 33 for the purpose of recessing the bight portion 35B of the spring clip 35 to position it a sufficient distance removed from the front edge of the female end 20A of the housing 26 to avoid physical contact with the utensil and thus assure electrically insulating it from the utensil.

As shown, the respective recesses 37 slope or taper inwardly toward the male end 268 of the housing. Also, a transverse shoulder 39, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 5, is provided in the proximity of the inner extremity of the recess 37 to cooperate with the inwardly curved end 35C of the leg portion 35A of the spring clip 35 to securely hold the spring clip in position. The arrangement of the spring clip 33 is such that it will normally maintain the female end 20A of the respective housing sections 23, 24 biased toward one another as can best be seen in FIG. 3. Thus, the housing sections 23, 24 acting on the outwardly bent portion 26F of the electrode 26 at the female end 26D thereof will function to bias the female end of the electrodes to their smallest socket-forming size (see FIG. 3). To increase the size of the female end 20A of the electrodes 26, the other ends 20B of the housing are pinched together to effect expansion of the female end 20A thereof.

An important feature of the present invention is the improved actuator means provided to facilitate or effect the rocking movement of the respective half sections 23, 24! whereby the contact members may be made to receive, grip, nd release the electrode prongs of a utensil or appliance. This is attained by a pair of actuators 4M), tlll pivoted about pivot pin 36. As shown in FIG. l, the actuators are similarly constructed and each is rendered readily interchangeable. Thus, the respective actuators can be formed from a single metallic stamping. As shown, the actuators M), M are shaped to conform substantially to the outline of the adapter and are disposed on either side thereof. Each of the actuators is provided with pair of spaced ear or lug portions 62 each of which has an aligned opening therein. In the assembled position, the opening in the respective ears &2 of the actuators d0, ill are disposed in alignment with the pin hole 4% formed in the respective half sections and the apertures in the clamp 50. As a result, the pin means 36 holding the half sections 23, 24 together and holding the clamp 50 in position about the half sections defines the pivot or fulcrum for the respective actuators M), 411.

Each of the actuators has an extended or lever portion 40A, 41A which projects beyond the male or rear end of the adapter. The section of each actuator between the lug 42 and the extended portion MBA, MA has oblique sidewalls which, as shown in FIG. M, are sloped and contoured with a rigid crimped depression so as to be in camming relationship with the outer surface of the respective adapter half sections 23, 24 in proximity of the male or rear end 203 of the adapter. Thus it will be apparent that when the extended portions MIA, tlllA of the actuators are pressed together, they in turn will impart a camming action on the rear end of the respective half sections 23, 24 thereby closing the space defined by the bevel 28 and thereby effecting the relative rocking action between the respective half sections. The improved camming section of the actuators brought about by the crimped depression provides a more positive compressive action to the sidewalls of the half sections than that which was possible prior to this invention. When this occurs, the female and 20A of the adapter expands or spreads apart to increase the size of the socket thercat. Thus, when the rear end 208 rocks to contract, the front end 20A spreads or expands to enlarge the sockets therein. Since the female end portions 20A of the respective electrodes 26 are normally biased closed, the expansion of the sockets will permit the respective members 26A, 26B of the electrodes to give or spread. Consequently the adapter can be rendered readily detachable or attachable to the size of the mating electrode component ofthe electrical appliance.

As best shown in FIGS. I, 4 and FIG. 13, a leaf spring 43 is appended to the outer extremity of each actuator and is positioned so as to be between the actuator extended portion and in slidable contact with the upper (and lower) exterior surface of the male or rear end of the assembled half sections 23, 24. The leaf spring is arranged so as to bias the extended portion of the actuator away from the adapter housing; therefore, when the pressure on each actuator is removed, the camming portion of each actuator is moved clear of the sides of the half sections by the reaction of the leaf spring 43, 44, permitting the spring clip 35 to restore the respective half sections 23, 24 to their normal or gripping relationship as best seen in FIG. 3. Consequently, the respective half sections 23, 2% under the action of the spring clip 35 will cause the female ends 260 of the electrical contacts 26 to flex against their normal bias and to position the same into gripping relationship for forcibly gripping the male electrode or terminal of an electrical appliance. Thus, the leaf springs 43, Ml of the actuators augment the biasing force of the spring clip 35 to return the half sections 23, 24 to their normal gripping relationship.

Obviously the adapter may be electrically engaged with the terminals or electrodes of a utensil or appliance without first manipulating the actuators 40, 41. To separate or disconnect the adapter from the terminal or electrodes, the actuators 40, 4] are manipulated causing the contact members 26 to assume their open position and so release the terminals or elec trodes for easy separation of the adapter from the utensil or appliance. The adapter, as shown in the drawings, may be used for utensils having a handle in close proximity to the socket electrodes or prongs above the latter because the actuator may be manipulated laterally.

It will be understood that the projecting end portions 40A, 41A of the respective actuators 4t), dll may be readily spaced to facilitate gripping thereof. As, for example, they may be formed with small holes to provide for finger rests so as to prevent slipping of an operator's fingers thereon. Also, the projecting end portions of the respective actuators may be provided with raised, knurled, or scored portions so as to provide an antislip surface.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment for practicing the same, it will be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

I. An expandable electric plug adapter comprising a. a housing composed of complementary half sections,

b. each of said half sections having abutting bearing edge portions along one end thereof and a beveled bearing portion along the other end portion of at least one half section to effect rocking of said half sections relative to each other,

c. each of said sections having complementary recesses formed therein to define spaced, longitudinally extending and expandable sockets, said sockets opening to either end of said housing.

(I. a pair of electrical contact members enclosed in said housing,

e. each of said electrical contact members comprising a facing section to form a female end portion disposed within said housing adjacent one end thereof and a longitudinal web joining said section with a tubular male end portion projecting the other end portion of said housing,

. said web being resilient whereby said facing section may be forced out of its normal position to provide a snug fit with a complementary connector,

g. cooperating means formed on said contacts and said respective recesses to prohibit relative movement therebetween,

. means for maintaining said half sections cooperatively as sociated with each other, which comprises,

i. a clamp comprised of two side elements interconnected with a flexing web portion so as to compressively embrace said half sections, each of said side elements overlying a substantially major portion of the exterior surface of said half section whereby said side element forms a protective shield against mechanical stresses imposed upon the half section, and

ii. pin means extending transversely of said half sections and said clamp side elements for maintaining said half sections and said clamp side elements in cooperable assembled relationship.

i. a spring means for maintaining said half sections biased toward one another at one end thereof, and

j. a pair of actuators being oppositely disposed on either'side of said housing and having portions thereof in camming relationship with each of said half sections whereby movement of the actuators toward each other overcomes the force of said spring means and earns said half sections to effect lateral rocking thereof to permit the flexing of the biased female end portions of said contacts.

2. The invention of claim I wherein each of the electrical contact tubular male end portions projecting beyond the end portion of the housing is sized in length and diameter and positioned to mate with the female electrode of an electric plug to form a physically strong unitary-type assembly of plug adapter and electric plug with positive electrical contact therebetween.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the complementary recesses formed in each of said half sections define spaced, longitudinally extending, and expandable sockets having configurations which cooperate with the configuration ofthe elec trical contacts to restrain the electrical contacts from longitudinal movement relative to the plug adapter and permit the female end of the electrical contacts freedom to flex so as to snugly fit or receive the male electrode of an electrical appliance.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein a leaf spring is appended to each of the actuators oppositely disposed on either side of the housing, one end of said leaf spring being fixed to the actuator and the other end of said leaf spring in contact with the housing, said leaf spring positioned so as to bias the actuator to a position whereby the cam portion ofthe actuator is moved clear of the housing.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the portion of each of the actuators in camming relationship with each of the half sections is comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed oblique sidewalls, each sidewall being sloped and contoured and having a vertical crimped depression so as to form a rigid structural member to effect a positive compressive camming action with the respective halfseetion ofsaid housing.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the spring means maintaining said half sections biased toward one another at one end thereof is comprised of a U-shape spring clip having its hight portion recessed within the notched front end of the plug adapter housing and having the extremity of each leg portion inwardly curved to cooperate with a transverse shoulder molded in the external recess ofsaid half section to secure said spring clip in biasing position. 

1. An expandable electric plug adapter comprising a. a housing composed of complementary half sections, b. each of said half sections having abutting bearing edge portions along one end thereof and a beveled bearing portion along the other end portion of at least one half section to effect rocking of said half sections relative to each other, c. each of said sections having complementary recesses formed therein to define spaced, longitudinally extending and expandable sockets, said sockets opening to either end of said housing. d. a pair of electrical contact members enclosed in said housing, e. each of said electrical contact members comprising a facing section to form a female end portion disposed within said housing adjacent one end thereof and a longitudinal web joining said section with a tubular male end portion projecting the other end portion of said housing, f. said web being resilient whereby said facing section may be forced out of its normal position to provide a snug fit with a complementary connector, g. cooperating means formed on said contacts and said respective recesses to prohibit relative movement therebetween, h. means for maintaining said half sections cooperatively associated with each other, which comprises, i. a clamp comprised of two side elements interconnected with a flexing web portion so as to compressively embrace said half sections, each of said side elements overlying a substantially major portion of the exterior surface of said half section whereby said side element forms a protective shield against mechanical stresses imposed upon the half section, and ii. pin means extending transversely of said half sections and said clamp side elements for maintaining said half sections and said clamp side elements in cooperable assembled relationship. i. a spring means for maintaining said half sections biased toward one another at one end thereof, and j. a pair of actuators being oppositely disposed on either side of said housing and having portions thereof in camming relationship with each of said half sections whereby movement of the actuators toward each other overcomes the force of said spring means and cams said half sections to effect lateral rocking thereof to permit the flexing of the biased female end portions of said contacts.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of the electrical contact tubular male end portions projecting beyond the end portion of the housing is sized in length and diameter and positioned to mate with the female electrode of an electric plug to form a physically strong unitary-type assembly of plug adapter and electric plug with positive electrical contact therebetween.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the complementary recesses formed in each of said half sections define spaced, longitudinally extending, and expandable sockets having configurations which cooperate with the configuration of the electrical contacts to restrain the electrical contacts from longitudinal movement relative to the plug adapter and permit the femaLe end of the electrical contacts freedom to flex so as to snugly fit or receive the male electrode of an electrical appliance.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein a leaf spring is appended to each of the actuators oppositely disposed on either side of the housing, one end of said leaf spring being fixed to the actuator and the other end of said leaf spring in contact with the housing, said leaf spring positioned so as to bias the actuator to a position whereby the cam portion of the actuator is moved clear of the housing.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the portion of each of the actuators in camming relationship with each of the half sections is comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed oblique sidewalls, each sidewall being sloped and contoured and having a vertical crimped depression so as to form a rigid structural member to effect a positive compressive camming action with the respective half section of said housing.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the spring means maintaining said half sections biased toward one another at one end thereof is comprised of a U-shape spring clip having its bight portion recessed within the notched front end of the plug adapter housing and having the extremity of each leg portion inwardly curved to cooperate with a transverse shoulder molded in the external recess of said half section to secure said spring clip in biasing position. 